Thermostatic circulation control



Sept. 2, 1930. J; D. DURANT 1,774,506

' TILIERMOSTATIG CIRCULATION CONTROL Filed March 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 9 W 4 mllllli Patented Sept. 2, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOHN D. DURAN'I, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO THEBMOSTATIG CIRCULATION CONTROL Applicationflled March 19, 1928. Serial No. 262,805.

This invention relates to the control of the cooling circulation in internal combustion engines and't-he like.

The objects of the invention are to provide [6 a simple, inexpensive and positively operating form of mechanism which can be readily installed in the present-day circulating systems and which will operate surely and safely to control the circulation in accordance with temperature changes.

A special important feature of the invention is the utilization of a Bourdon tube as the control element. 7

Other novel features relate to the mounting of the Bourdon tube and its method of operation, etc. o

Various other novel features of the invention will appear "as the specification proceeds.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification illustrate certain practical embodiments of the invention, but

it should be understood. that structural changes may. be made without departure from the true spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and broadly claimed. I

Figure 1 is a broken sectional view of the head ortion of an internal combustion engine i lustrating the invention as controlling the return flow from the motor block, the valve being shown closed by the Bourdon tube to restrict the circulation from the motor block. V

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the thermostat.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the same with the Bourdon tube broken away and appearing partly in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the adjustable link by which the tube is connected with the valve or shutter.

Figure 5 .is a sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

In Figure 1, a part of a motor head is indicated at 6, having a return water passage 7 therein, opening downwardly into the water circulation chamber and opening upwardly into the return flow fittin 8 which is usually connected by hose or the 'ke with the top of the radiator. This return fittingis shown bolted in place on the motor head by bolts 9.

The circulation control comprises a sleevelike member 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 as having a base flange l1 caught beneath the flange 12 of the return fitting and made tight by a suitable gasket 13, saidsleeve having a vane or valve14, pivoted therein at 15 and connected by a link 16 with a Bourdon tube 17 which is affixed or secured to the base flange.

The link 16 is shown pivoted at 19 within a cup or cavity 20 pressed in the face of the valve and as pivoted at its opposite end at 21 to the free end of the Bourdon tube.

Adjustment in the length of the link and hence in the relation between the Bourdon tube and valve is provided for in the illus tration by journaling a nut 22 in the angularly turned portion 23 of the link and. .en gaging in the nut, the threaded shank'o'fthe,

pivot stud 24. The head portion 25 of this tensions of a sheet metal filler piece 27 which is soldered or otherwise secured as a closure plug in the free end of the Bourdon tube. The projecting back portion 28 of this closure piece by engagement with the wall of the mounting collar, "as indicated in broken lines, Figure 2, is adapted to serve as a stop limiting the expanding movement of the tube and hence the extent of opening of the valve. It will be evident that by turning the adjusting nut the efiective length of the pivot stud may be made greater or less and hence the overall lengthof the link, the distance between the two ivots 19 and 21 may be determined at wi l.

The Bourdon tube is shown as detachably mounted by means of a special base piece 29, secured flat against the under side of the base flange by screws 30 and having a seat 31 in which the base end of the tube is rigidly secured. A. screw plu is shown at 32, having a seat in the un er face oi the base piece and serving as a plu closing the base end of the tube. ThlS construction,it will be seen, permits the tube to be filled with the expansibl'e fluid andthelinkis preferably so adjusted in length that when the tube reaches the limit of its expanding movement, the valve will be fully open, as shown in the broken lines, Figure 2. I

This adjustment maybe made such as to cant the nut sufliciently so that it will bind on the stud and hence forma frictional lock therewith, preventing accidental turning of the nut after the proper adjustment has been made, or the nut may be soldered in the adjusted position.

The Bourdon tube is fixed rigidly to the support at its base end and curves down wardly into the circulating water space of the motor head so as to be directly subjected to the heat conditions in the block of the mo-v tor, and the parts are so related that at subnormal circulation temperatures for the motor, the valve will be held closed by the plosing thrust of the Bourdon tube and will be shifted to the open position as the circulating water temperature reaches a normal or proper operating heat. In the fully open condition it will be seen that the controlhng device offers practically no obstruction to the free flow of circulating fluid. The de vice takes up but little room and may be readily inst lled in the average circulating system wit out any or very little chan e. The

Bourdon tube is especially sensitive to changes in temperature and is owerful enough in its action to insure com ete closing and positive opening of the circulation valve. j

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 has been developed to control a special by-pass provided in the head of certam motors. This by pam is indicated at 34 and is intended for use in the warming up period of the motor when the cooling effect of the radiator is not required." After the motor is properly warmed, the by-pass should closed and this is efiected in the illustration by a 35 dependent from the main valve 14 by pivot connection 36 and carrying at its lower end a valve 37 adapted to engage the valve seat 38 at the mouth of the bypass.

7 an inturned flange 41 at its upper end to which the flange 11 of the thermostat sleeve is secured by bolts 42.

The ivot fitting on the end of the Bourdon tu e is illustrated in this last form as having a collar' portion 27 ,clasped about the flattened end of the tube and secured as by means of solder, the same soldering operation serving to seal the flattened end of the tube as indicated at 43.

What is claimed is:

.1. In combination with a flow conduit of the cooling circulation system of an internal combustion engine, a thermostatic circulation control device'mounted as a unit within said conduit and comprising a sleeve-like member defining the flow passage and having an outstanding flange by which the unit is mounted in the conduit and serving as a closure to the conduit to enforce flow through the sleeve member, a swinging valve closure for the sleeve member, a Bourdon tube fixedly supported at one end as a part of the unit,

said Bourdontube being of no eater overall dimensions than the outstandmg flange of,

the unit, so as to enter freely in the circulation conduit and be subjected to the full influence of the cooling fluid closed off by the mounting flange and a link "having one end pivoted directly to the free end of the Bourdon tube and having its opposite end pivoted directly to the swinging closure at a point closely adjacent the pivotal mounting of the swinging closure, whereby comparatively small movements of the Bourdon tube will be directly communicated to the swinging closure and will be effective to impart greater movements to said closure.

2. A combination as in the preceding claim, in which the sleeve member is arranged vertically, the mounting flange is arranged horizontally with the Bourdon tube below nular flange for mounting the same in the circulation system of an internal combus- 'tion engine, a valve ,ivotally mounted in said tubular member, a ourdon tube supported at' one end by the tubular member and a link pivoted at one end to the valve and having its opposite endpivotally connected with the free end of the'BQurdon tube, whereby said Bourdon tube will be efi'ective to dishift the valve in both engine, a valve .pivotally mounted in said tubular member, a Bourdon tube supported at one end by the tubular member, a link pivoted at one end to the valve and having its opposite end pivotally connected with the free end of the Bourdon tube, whereby said Bourdontube will be eflective to directly and positively shift the valve in both opening and closing movements, said tubular member being arrangedsubstantially upright and x the supporting flange standing out substan- 7 tlally horizontal thereto, the Bourdon tube being supported from the lower end of the tubular member so as to occupy a clear circulation space below the tubular member and beneath the supporting flan e.

In testimony whereof I a x my signature. L 

